Constitution Amendment: DPC advocates legislative seat for “runner-up” political party

The Democratic People’s Congress (DPC) has called for the provision in the Constitution, of opportunity for “runner-up’’ political party in an election to occupy parliamentary seat sometimes.

National Chairman of the party, Mr Olusegun Peters made the call on Wednesday in an interview with our reporter in Abuja.

He described the proposal as “proportional representation’’ and urged the National Assembly to consider it in the ongoing amendment of the 1999 Constitution.

Peters said that the proposal would broaden the nation’s political horizon and give voice to more electoral constituencies at the federal and state assemblies.

“With proportional representation, opposition parties that performed well in an election will have some Federal and State Legislative seats in spite of another political party securing the highest votes in the election.

“The winner-takes-all system in practice is the bane of our democratic process.

“The INEC should set a percentage target for any opposition political party during elections to the national or state assemblies.

“The party that meets the target next to the winner of the election should be made the Proportional Representative,’’ he said.

Peters explained that such representative would be invited to the Legislative house during decision-making on issues that concerned the constituencies where it excelled.

According to him, the inclusive nature of proportional representation made it attractive to many democratic countries around the world that has adopted it.

“It is an ideal electoral system in multi-party democracy and highly recommended for our nascent democratic governance with 45 registered political parties.’’

The chairman said that the system was operational in the United Kingdom and some other places and should be welcomed in Nigeria.

He urged national assembly to consider “this timely proposal that will lessen friction and factionalism in the country’s political firmament.

He recalled that recently, the leadership of the national assembly hinted of the plan to include Independent Candidate clause in the Constitution but opposed the proposal.

Peters said that such provision was unnecessary given the level of political evolution currently in the country

“It is obvious, evident and manifest that the nation’s democratic structures cannot sustain this ambitious proposal now.’’

He said that 45 registered political parties were sufficient platforms for all aspirants for elective positions to use.

He said that if independent candidate provision was made in the Constitution, “you may have over 1000 candidates in a ballot sheet; this will confuse most voters and make mockery of our frail democracy’’.